The 38th Marin Corps Marathon will debut a flatter course from miles 6 through 9 as runners approach the U.S. Capitol. The new approach will begin as runners travel north on Rock Parkway to Beach Drive and then venturing back along the Parkway on roads.

In years past, runners would turn left onto Canal Road after crossing the Key Bridge to Georgetown before scaling a 150-foot grade around the Georgetown Reservoir between Miles 7 and 8. The MCM course now will send runners immediately into a crowd of supporters and spectators along Georgetown's renowned M Street prior to entering Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway on a route that has not been part of the MCM course since 2006. The beautifully tree-lined Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway was developed in the 1920s and '30s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"This new course offers more spacious and flatter roadways for runners as they travel through National Park landscape and under historical bridges," says Rick Nealis, MCM Director. "Georgetown, especially M Street, remains important to our runners and, annually, the hot spot for spectators and supporters."